H7: Aston Martin take GT1 lead

The No. 009 Aston has been engaged in an enormous battle for the lead with its key rival, the No. 64 Corvette, driven by Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen - who are fighting to score a hat-trick this year.

Meanwhile, Darren Turner in the sister Aston is flying after the costly oil sump change earlier in the race and has moved up to 16th overall and eighth in class.

Not only that, but the British RML team continue to dominate the LMP2 category with their MG-Lola EX 264, which is currently being driven by Thomas Erdos.

"Running very smoothly," said team boss Ray Mallock of the team's progress. "All going to plan and the guys are happy. It's very satisfying when it goes well, but it can be equally frustrating when it doesn't."

The car, which also has former winner Andy Wallace and Mike Newton in the driving squad, is currently lying sixth overall and three laps ahead of the next LMP2 driver Warren Hughes.

Even in the GT2 category there is a strong hint of a British charge as the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 360 driven by Andrew Kirkaldy chases down the second-placed Spyker of Jeroen Bleekemolen (and Britain's Johnny Kane) at a rate of five seconds per lap, which would put the Scot ahead with half an hour. The category is being led by No. 83 car of Seikel Motorsports.

At the front, Frank Biela continues to march on imperiously in the leading Audi R10 TDI.

The German driver now enjoys a two-lap lead over the Pescarolo of Franck Montagny. The continuing problems of the French team's sister No.17 car, which is now undergoing a partial engine change, have seen Jan Lammers's Dome move up to third overall in the standings.

Allan McNish has brought the No. 7 Audi up to fourth after overcoming earlier injector problems, while Marcel Fassler is running fifth in the Swiss Spirit Courage.